Florida Farmers’ Perspectives on Deer Damage – We Want to Hear from You

by | Feb 27, 2026 | Alfalfa, Blueberry, Citrus, Community Service Project, Corn, Cotton, Cucurbit, Deer, Field Crops, Forage & Pasture, Fruit, General Agriculture, hay, Horticulture, Legumes, Peanut, Perennial Peanut, Pest Management, Soybean, Vegetables, Watermelon, Wildlife

Figure 1 White-tailed deer actively feeding in newly emerged peanut field.

White-tailed deer actively feeding in a newly emerged peanut field in the Florida Panhandle. We used trail cameras to document deer browsing shortly after crop emergence. Credit: Carolina Baruzzi, UF/IFAS

 

Across Florida, white-tailed deer are causing extensive damage to agricultural crops. Deer herbivory (feeding damage) can reduce yields, add management costs, and influence planting decisions resulting in financial and operational impacts that can be difficult to quantify.

Researchers in the Wildlife Ecology and Land Management Lab at UF/IFAS Quincy, North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC), working alongside UF/IFAS Extension and UF/IFAS Agronomy faculty, are conducting a state-wide project focused on better understanding and reducing deer damage to crops. Our Deer Crop Damage team has been conducting research for the past two years to determine when and where deer damage is more likely to occur, how severe yield losses can be, and how deer densities in agricultural fields may be affected by deterrent approaches and field characteristics.

 

Deer feeding in field compared to exclusion cage

Deer feeding in a research field beside a fenced exclosure. Crops inside the exclosure (protected from deer) are visibly larger than those outside the cage where browsing occurs, showing how researchers measure the direct impact of deer feeding on crop growth and potential yield. Credit: Carolina Baruzzi, UF/IFAS

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To expand our research and help the team better support farmers, we aim to understand the full costs of deer management, including labor, time, and other resources. We also want to identify the main challenges farmers face in implementing deer management on their farms, as their firsthand experience is essential for developing practical solutions.

Fresh deer tracks in a peanut field

Fresh white-tailed deer tracks in a cultivated field. Even when deer are not directly observed, tracks like these indicate regular movement through crop rows, helping researchers identify deer activity and areas of potential feeding pressure. Credit: Carolina Baruzzi, UF/IFAS

We want to hear from you whether deer damage is a major issue on your operation, a minor concern, or something you’ve simply adapted to over time, as your perspective helps paint a clearer picture of what growers are dealing with across the state. Specifically, the project aims to better understand:

  • Which crops are most affected
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  • What management strategies are being used
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  • Costs, labor, and barriers associated with deer management
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  • How our team can help growers moving forward
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To gather this information, our team is conducting grower surveys and in-depth interviews until the end of April. These conversations will help ensure that future research, Extension, and management recommendations reflect real on-farm conditions and grower priorities.

Even operations with little or no deer damage provide valuable comparison information that strengthens the research. The more growers who participate, the more accurate the results will be for future research and extension educational support.

You only need to choose one option, either the survey OR an interview:

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Complete the short online grower survey (takes just a few minutes):

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Sign up for a one-on-one interview (15-30 minutes, depending on your input):

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Interviews and surveys will be conducted until April 30, and all responses are anonymous.

 

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